Shrub rose plant named ‘Meiklutz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Shrub Rose plant is provided that abundantly forms attractive small cup-shaped pink blossoms. A bushy and compact growth habit is displayed and the foliage is rather dense and semi-glossy. The disease tolerance is good particularly with respect to  Marsonina rosea.  The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape, such as in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meiklutz.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was theproduct of the cross of the ‘Noatraum’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No.7,282) and an unnamed seedling (non-patented in the United States). The‘Noatraum’ variety is marketed under the FLOWER CARPET Pink Trademark.The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was ‘The Fairy’ variety(non-patented in the United States).(‘Noatraum’×Unnamed Seedling)×‘The Fairy’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Shrub rose plant of the present invention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a bushy and compact growth habit,    -   (b) forms in abundance attractive small cup-shaped pink        blossoms,    -   (c) displays rather dense semi-glossy green foliage,    -   (d) exhibits excellent tolerance to diseases particularly with        respect to Marsonina rosea, and    -   (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive        ornamentation in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks andgardens.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, the blossom appearance is considerably different from that ofthe ‘Noatraum’ and ‘The Fairy’ varieties. More specifically, the‘Noatraum’ blossoms are larger and are darker pink in coloration. Theblossoms of ‘The Fairy’ variety are lighter pink in coloration.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques inFrance has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stableand are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from onegeneration to another.

The new variety has been named ‘Meiklutz’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately one year of age and were observedduring June while growing on Rosa froebelli understock outdoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters and a standardcolor presentation are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1 — illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening ofthe sepals;

FIG. 3 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4 — illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 — illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 — illustrates a specimen of an open flower — plan view — obverse;

FIG. 7 — illustrates a specimen of an open flower — plan view — reverse;

FIG. 8 — illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower — plan view —obverse;

FIG. 9 — illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower — plan view —reverse;

FIG. 10 — illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 — illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 — illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 — illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets — planview — upper surface;

FIG. 15 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets — planview — under surface;

FIG. 16 — illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets — planview — upper surface; and

FIG. 17 — illustrates a cluster of buds in various stages of openingtogether with an open flower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of one-year-old plants during May while budded on Rosafroebelli understock and growing in greenhouses at Le Cannet des Maures,Var, France.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—Young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144B. Adult            wood: near Green Group 143A.        -   Thorns.—On young stems: Small prickles: Quantity: none. Long            prickles: Configuration: upright and longish pointed, and            slightly concave on the under surface with a narrow and long            base. Quantity: approximately 7 on average on a stem length            of 10 cm. Length: approximately 0.7 cm on average. Color            near Greyed-Orange Group 164A. On adult stems: Small            prickles: Quantity: none Long prickles: Configuration:            upright and longish pointed, and slightly concave on the            under surface with a narrow and long base. Quantity:            approximately 8 on average on a stem length of 10 cm.            Length: approximately 0.8 cm on average. Color near            Greyed-Orange Group 177A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Smooth, adnate, pectinate, rather broad,            approximately 1.4 cm in length on average, approximately 0.6            cm in width on average, near Green Group 141B on the upper            surface, and near Green Group 143B on the under surface.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144A in            coloration. Under surface: near Green Group 143B in            coloration. Texture: smooth, non-glandular and without            prickles on the upper and under surfaces. Length:            approximately 1.7 cm for the terminal leaflet.        -   Rachis.—Upper surface: near Green Group 139C in coloration.            Under surface: near Green Group 143B in coloration. Texture:            smooth.        -   Leaflets.—Number 3, and most often 5 and 7. Shape: generally            oval with a somewhat rounded tip and a rounded base. Size:            the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 3.9 cm in            length. Serration: small and single (as illustrated).            Texture: somewhat flexible. General appearance: rather dense            with a semi-glossy aspect. Color (young foliage): upper            surface: near Green Group 141A. Under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 146C. Color (adult foliage): Upper            surface: near Green Group 139A. Under surface: near            Yellow-Green Group 146B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly pluriflorous, with a plurality            of blossoms per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Tomentose, approximately 1.5 cm in length on            average, approximately 0.2 cm in diameter on average, and            near Greyed-Purple Group 183A in coloration.        -   Sepals.—Upper surface: smooth and near Green Group 138B.            Under surface: smooth and near Green Group 141B in            coloration. Shape: longish and narrow, and tend to be            upright at the base. Size: near 1.4 cm in length on average,            and near 0.3 cm in width at the widest point on average.        -   Buds.—Shape: elongated. Size: small. Length: approximately            1.4 cm on average. Width: near 1 cm on average at the widest            point. Color as the calyx breaks. Upper surface: near Red            Group 55A, and suffused with Red Group 55B. Under surface:            near Red Group 56A, and amply suffused with near Red Group            55A and 55B.        -   Flower.—Shape: cup-shaped. Diameter approximately 2.2 cm on            average. Color (in the course of opening): Upper surface:            near Red-Purple Group 62A, and amply suffused with near Red            Group 55A. Under surface: near Red-Purple Group 62D, and            suffused with near Red-Purple Group 62B. Spot at base: very            small and near Green-White Group 157D on the upper surface            and near White Group 155D on the under surface. Color (when            fully open): Upper surface: near Red-Purple Group 62A            suffused with near Red-Purple Group 57C. Under surface: near            Red-Purple Group 56D suffused with near Red Group 55C, and            amply suffused with near Red Group 55B. Spot at base: very            small and near Green-White Group 157D on the upper surface            and near White Group 155D on the under surface. Fragrance:            none. Petal number: commonly approximately 10 to 16 on            average under normal growing conditions. Petal shape: with a            substantially rounded tip and base. Petal texture:            relatively thick. Petal length: approximately 1.7 cm on            average. Petal width: approximately 1.6 cm on average. Petal            arrangement: imbricated; and commonly with petaloids towards            the center. Petal drop: good with the petals commonly            detaching cleanly before drying. Stamen number approximately            93 on average. Anthers: regularly arranged around the            styles, approximately 0.1 cm in size on average, and near            Yellow-Orange Group 23B in coloration. Pollen: present.            Filaments: approximately 0.3 cm in length on average and            near Yellow Group 2C in coloration. Pistils: approximately            30 on average. Stigmas: approximately 0.1 cm in Size on            average and near Yellow Group 2C in coloration. Styles:            approximately 0.4 cm in length on average, and near            Green-Yellow Group 1C in coloration. Receptacle: tomentose,            approximately 0.5 cm in length on average, approximately 0.4            cm in width on average at the widest point, and near            Greyed-Purple Group 183B in coloration.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.        -   Blooming.—Late, very abundant, and recurrent.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—Very good, particularly with respect            to Marsonina rosae.

1. A new and distinct Shrub rose plant characterized by the followingcharacteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy and compact growth habit, (b)forms in abundance attractive small cup-shaped pink blossoms, (c)displays rather dense semi-glossy green foliage, (d) exhibits excellenttolerance to diseases particularly with respect to Marsonina rosea, and(e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentationin the landscape; substantially as herein shown and described.